Quantitative Analysis of Brain Metabolite Spectrum Depending on the Concentration of the Contrast Media in Phantom

Quantitative analysis of MR spectrum depending on mole concentration of the contrast media in cereberal metabolite phantom was performed. PRESS pulse sequence was used to obtain MR spectrum at 3.0T MRI system (Archieva, Philips Healthcare, Best, Netherland), and the phantom contains brain metabolites such as N-Acetyl Asparatate (NAA), Choline (Cho), Creatine (Cr) and Lactate (Lac). In this study, optimization of MRS PRESS pulse sequency depending on the concentration of contrast media (0, 0.1 and $0.3mmol/{\ell}$) was evaluated for various repetition time(TR; 1500, 1700 and 2000 ms). In control (cotrast-media-free) group, NAA and Cho signals were the highest at TR 2000 ms than at 1700 and 1500 ms. Cr had the highest peak signal at TR 1500 ms. When concentration of contrast media was $0.1mmol/{\ell}$, the metabolites were increased NAA 73%, Cho 249%, Cr 37% at TR 1700 ms compared with other TR, and also signal increased at $0.3mmol/{\ell}$, In $0.5mmol/{\ell}$ of contrast agent, cerebral metabolite peaks reduced, especially when TR 1500 ms and 2000 ms they decreased below those of control group. The ratio of metabolite peaks such as NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr decreased as the concentration of the contrast agent increased from 0.1 to $0.5mmol/{\ell}$. Authors found that the optimization of PRESS sequence for 0.3T MRS was as follows: low density of contrast agent ($0.1mmol/{\ell}$ and $0.3mmol/{\ell}$) made the highest signal intensity, while high density of contrast agent reveals the least reduction of signal intensity at 1700 ms. In conclusion, authors believe that it is helpful to reduce TR for acquiring maximum signal intensity.

팬텀 내 조영제 농도에 따른 뇌 대사물질 Spectrum의 정량분석

본 연구에서 3.0 T에서 조영제 몰 농도에 따른 뇌 대사물질의 MR spectrum을 Phantom에서 PRESS 펄스 파형으로 분석하고자 하였다. 뇌 대사물질인 N-Acetyl Asparatate(NAA), Choline(Cho), Creatine(Cr)의 spectrum은 획득할 수 있었지만, Lactate(Lac)는 획득할 수 없었다. 조영제가 없는 대조군의 TR 2000 ms가 NAA, Cho에서 TR 1700 ms와 TR 1500 ms보다 높게 측정되었고, Cr에서는 TR 1500 ms에서 높게 측정되었다. 조영제가 희석된 TR 1700 ms에서 $0.1mmol/{\ell}$의 NAA 73%, Cho 249%, Cr 37%로 다른 TR 값보다 가장 높게 측정되었고, $0.3mmol/{\ell}$에서도 신호크기가 증가하였다. $0.5mmol/{\ell}$에서는 뇌 대사물질들의 신호크기가 감소하였으며, 특히 TR 1500 ms과 TR 2000 ms에서는 대조군보다도 감소하였다. NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr에서도 조영제 농도가 $0.1mmol/{\ell}$, $0.3mmol/{\ell}$, $0.5mmol/{\ell}$로 증가할수록 신호크기가 감소하였다. 조영제에 의한 MRS PRESS 펄스파형의 적정화를 위하여 3.0T에서 TR 2000 ms 보다 조영제 농도가 낮은 $0.1mmol/{\ell}$와 $0.3mmol/{\ell}$에서 신호크기가 가장 높고, 조영제 농도가 높은 $0.5mmol/{\ell}$에서는 신호크기가 가장 적게 감소한 TR 1700 ms로 반복시간을 단축시켜 사용하는 것이 유용할 것으로 사료된다.